I adopted a female guinea pig turned out to be a male.....

[funkyhair]

Hi everyone I am new here! I decided to get two guinea pigs since a couple years ago mine went to piggy heaven.

So I adopted a guinea pig at a shelter that they claimed was a female...I also re-homed a baby guinea pig who is a female (I checked her). Well when we got home, the one from the shelter is in fact a MALE! A penis does not pop out of the circle that's above his bum when I press on him (he is not very tame).... but I do feel 2 large puffy bulges that obviously are testicles.

I am very depressed and sad that I could had been so dumb. I didn't even for once think the shelter could be wrong nor did I check myself at the shelter being blinded by happiness... Now they are separated and my dilema is should I get them each a friend or what should I do. I really don't want to take any of them back..but thinking about having 4 guinea pigs is way more than I planned. My husband is disabled though and perhaps it would be a good thing? Help please

[bpatters]

Hi, funkyhair, welcome to the forum.

The acid test of whether it's a male or a female is whether or not you can feel a ridge under the skin just above the genitals when you move your finger across his body. If you push down and toward his bottom on that ridge the penis should pop out. You can check Sexing Guinea Pigs: How to Sex a Guinea Pig for pictures and more information.

If you've got a male and a female, and don't want any more, then possibly you could swap one out for a different sex. I see that you're in Houston -- the only active GP rescue that I know of in this area is in Spring, www.my-petz.com/pcpr.htm. Maybe they'd trade one out for you.

The other possibility is to get the male neutered. It's a much less invasive surgery than spaying a female. That way they could live together.

Good luck, and let us know what happens.

[funkyhair]

Thank you for your kind reply, I would feel horrible giving either one away =/ The "male" guinea pig was by himself when I adopted him and I dont think he ever has had a friend. The female guinea pig is still a baby.

I have thought about neutering him, just scared since they are such little creatures. Thank you for the website I am going to really think about this and make a few calls. I will let you guys know what happens

[foggycreekcavy]

I'm glad you are considering keeping both.

If your vet is cavy experienced and has done plenty of neuters, there's less of a chance of anything going wrong. I have had dozens of guinea pigs neutered with very good results.

I'm sorry the shelter mis-sexed him! Often shelter staff aren't very knowledgeable about guinea pigs!

[funkyhair]

I am realizing that a lot of people don't know much about guinea pigs even shelter staff as you mentioned! I am still debating and will make a decision soon *sigh*

[foggycreekcavy]

Email the rescue bpatters posted a link to, to see if they will consider "trading" with you. It's another option you might want to consider, since neuters can be expensive. I realize you would rather keep them both, but it may be easier on you than the other options.

[funkyhair]

Yes I would rather keep them both and get them buddies each. My husband is at home all the time and the male guinea pig loves him, the female seems to like me a lil more since I brush her everyday. I am scared of trading guinea pigs, because in the end its not helping them and I want to do my best. Maybe I am just weird or too nice >_< I am going to go to shelters tomorow and see if there are any single piggies.

[foggycreekcavy]

How long were the two together, and how old are they? Because if the female is pregnant, you will have babies to choose companions from.

[funkyhair]

They were together for 3 seconds literally...she was just chilling under the table and he came and tried to grab her but i pushed him away he was trying to grab her but that was it... then i saw his two round manhoods unless female guinea pigs have something similar.... he must be very young, because they were never that obvious. I took her back and got 2 bonded males and they all get along really well. I am just paranoid about the sexing now, I check the new ones and they have dots above the "y" mine doesn't really have a dot but when I do push on a thin ridge above his area wrinkly skin come out.

[funkyhair]

which looks like the adolescent male pictures on the website

[foggycreekcavy]

Oh, three boys! What fun. You'll need to make sure you have a really large cage or you'll be in for trouble--check out the sizes on Guinea Pig Cages, Your Cavy At Home .

[funkyhair]

The cage I wanted to build out of wood but in the end I got the grids in case anything happens and they have to be separated or anything like that. They like to chill by our sofa and just lay there (and pee) I am guessing Rico was never an extreme agressive alpha male since he never had contact with other guinea pigs. Yeah I have had boars before, and I am really surprised how this time they all got along so well, other than a few little butt dragging dance, it all went really well. I believe he had been in that shelter so long that now he is just so excited he has new buddies. They are all sleeping together and eating hay and veggies together its too cute!!!! I am so glad I my guinea pigs although I wish I could had kept the female but eh circumstances =/

[RubyRain]

The cage I wanted to build out of wood but in the end I got the grids in case anything happens and they have to be separated or anything like that. They like to chill by our sofa and just lay there (and pee) I am guessing Rico was never an extreme agressive alpha male since he never had contact with other guinea pigs. Yeah I have had boars before, and I am really surprised how this time they all got along so well, other than a few little butt dragging dance, it all went really well. I believe he had been in that shelter so long that now he is just so excited he has new buddies. They are all sleeping together and eating hay and veggies together its too cute!!!! I am so glad I my guinea pigs although I wish I could had kept the female but eh circumstances =/

I think you did the best thing for your circumstances and you shouldn't feel bad about taking the female back. You still rescued 2 more and that is great!
Your boys are lucky they found a caring owner and I'm sure you'll make them very happy!

I know what you mean though because it happened to me to with our rabbits-SUPPOSED to be 2 females-uh nope. Luckily, we didn't have any babies and the male is neutered now but it was an expensive lesson. And thankfully, they stayed bonded through the separation time before/after surgery and the males adolescent stage. They are adorable now and sleep next to each other and nuzzle a lot-sooo cute.

I don't trust anyone to sex animals now though except for myself!
I think we all have to learn many of the lessons the hard way for them to really teach us

[funkyhair]

I know, usually I am very paranoid of things and ask a zillion questions but never in my head did I think the shelter would mis-sex a piggy! aweee so one of them turned out to be a male? Ahhhh I am glad they stayed bonded and still are together! <3